Ice-cream-dispensing device



W. L. HIX.

ICE CREAM DISPENSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31, 1920.

Patented June 8, 1920.

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WITNESS/56 9g ATTORNEYS M8 j m W. L. HIX.

ICE CREAM DISPENSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31,1920.

Patented June 8, 1920.

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A TTOH/VEYS WITNESSES W. L. HIX.

ICE CREAM DISPENSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 1mm, I920.

1,342,675, Patented June 8, 1920.

WITNESSES lNVENTOR ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ICE-CREAM-DISPENSING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Application filed January 31, 1920. Serial No. 355,383.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Lnwis HIX, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice- Cream-Dispensing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in ice cream dispensing devices, and has for its object to provide a device of the character specified by means of which quantities of ice cream of Various flavors may be held in a' single container and may be dispensed from the bottom of the container in blocks of predetermined size, and wherein means is provided for gradually moving the cream downward in the container as it is removed at the bottom.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dis pensing device, showing the manner of dispensing;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section;

Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section, taken at the top;

Fig. 5 is a top plan, side and front view, respectively, of the pawl and ratchet arrangement at the top of the freezer;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the mounting of the plungers for dispensing the cream;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the dispensing mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view.

In the present embodiment of the inven tion a suitable container is provided, consisting of a cylindrical body 2 having a bottom 4 and a false bottom 5 which is spaced above the bottom 4 by four radial partitions 6 arranged at angles of ninety degrees with respect to each other. This container fits within the inner shell of a refrigerating casing, consisting of the said inner shell 1 of metal or the like and an outer shell 12 of wood or like non-heat-conducting material. The inner shell 1 is spaced apart from the outer shell 12 and the space between is adapted to receive ice, to hold the contents of the container 2 in proper condition.

A case 7 square in cross section, is arranged within the container 2,- the bottom of case 2. This case is divided into four compartments of equal size, by diametrically arranged partitions 8, and the false bottom 5 is cut away at the bottoms of the compartments, so that the cream within the compartments may pass freely into the segmental spaces between the bottom 4 and the false bottom 5 and the partition 6.

A suitable stepped bearing (not shown) isprovided for the lower end of the container 2, and a journal pin 10 is provided at the intersection of the partitions 8 at the top of the container, the pin 10, which is rigid with the container, extending through the wooden top 11 of the outer shell 12 of the ice holder.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that each of the compartments formed between the bottoms 45 and the partition 6 is open at its outer side, that is, at its peripheral face, and the ice container has a passage indicated at 12 which permits access to the compartment between the bottoms 4 and 5 when said compartments are in register with this opening 12 It will be understood that the space between the shells 1 and 12 is cut off from the remaining space between the shells at the opening 122 so that the ice can not come into the said opening. The outlets or months of the compartments formed between the bottoms 4 and 5 are adapted to register with this opening 12 in succession when the cream container is turned, and means is provided for cutting off and removing a block of the desired size at this opening 12 The said means is in the form of upper'and lower quadrantal plates 13 and 14, which are rigidly connected by a curved plate 15, the plates 13, 14 and 15 forming thus a species of scoop. The free edges of the plates 13 and 14 act as cutting edges.

In order to permit of serving a square block, a partition plate 16 is arranged between the plates 13 and 14, the said partition plate consisting of two portions extending at a right angle with respect to each other. One of these portions has an extension 16 which is hinged to one end of the curved plate 15. This plate 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, makes that portion of the spacing between the plates 13 and 14 which receives the ice cream rectangular, so that a rectangular block may be served, and by swinging the partition 16 outwardly on its hinge connection the block of cream may be dis lodged. This extension 16 extends beyond the hinge outwardly, to form a fingerpiece, indicated at 18, for swinging the partition to dislodge the block of cream. The other end of the plate 15 is hinged to the receptacle 2, as indicated at 17, and near its other end the plate 15 has a fingerpiece 9 for convenience in handling the same. The receptacle 2 is supported by a suitable base 19, being connected to the base by angle brackets 20, and a drain pipe 21 leads from the receptacle 12 at its bottom.

In order to bring any desired compartment into register with the dispensing mechanism a crank arm 22 is secured to the pin 10 before mentioned, the said pin having an extension above the top 11 of the receptacle, and the crank having a socket for receiving the extension. A ratchet wheel 24 is rigid with the pin, and this ratchet wheel is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 25 mounted to slide in the crank and normally pressed by a spring 26 toward the ratchet wheel. The arrangement is such that when the crank is moved in one direction the pawl will engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel and will move the wheel. Thus any compartment of the container may be brought into register with the dispensing opening 12. One movement of the crank 22 between the stops 23 in the proper direction will bring a compartment into register, and the compartments are thus brought in succession into register with the dispensing aperture.

In order to press the cream in the compartments toward the compartments formed between the plates 4 and 5 so that each of the said compartments will be provided with cream sufficient to form a block of the required size, a plunger 27 is provided. This plunger, as shown, has a socket 28 on its upper face at the center thereof, and the plunger is shaped to fit within the compartments and to fill the same and to move longitudinally of the compartments.

The plunger is connected with one of the arms 29 of a yoke or lJ-shaped member, consisting of the said arm, an arm 31 and a body 32. The arm 29 passes through an opening 30 in the top 11 of the receptacle, and an arm 31 depends downwardly alongside the container, and. the arms are conne cted by the body which extends'radially of the cover. The lower end of the arm 29 is shaped to engage the socket 28, the socket The arm 31 of the yoke has a loop 3% at its lower end, and one of the sides of the loop has a series of rack teeth 35. These teeth are adapted to be engaged by the teeth of a pinion 36 on a shaft 37 which is journaled radially to the receptacle 12, and is provided with a hand wheel 38 for turning the same. It will be evident that when the hand wheel is turned the yoke as a whole will be raised or lowered, and, when desired, it may be moved entirely out of the cover 11, to permit the removal of the said cover. The plunger 27 is permanently connected with the yoke and after the cream has been pushed down in a compartment the plunger is lifted out of the compartment, in position to pass into the next one.

The containers composed of the shells 1 and 2 is provided with a cover 39 and, in practice, the cream in the several compartments of the container 7 will be within an inclosure of wax paper, so that the cream does not come into contact with the walls of the container. The lower ends of the paper inclosures are open, so that the cream is pressed out at the lower ends by the plungers.

The plate 15 of the dispensing mechanism forms a door for the opening 12 when closed, to prevent the entrance of dirt, insects and the like, and the cover 39 has doors t0- 11 for permitting refilling of the compartments. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the cover 11 has a segment thereof removed and this segment, in practice, is a quad ant. The cover 39 has anopening registering with this opening of the cover 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The door 40 closes this opening so far as concerns the container for the ice cream. Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that this door has flanges and the door 41 closes the ice (JOEL partment, that is, that portion of the opening in the cover 11 outside of the cover 39, the said cover 41 fitting between the container 1 and the container 12. These doors are of metal and either or both may be re moved. A quadrant shaped block 40, shown in Fig. 8, is provided for closing the opening in the cover 11. This block 4O fits over the covers 4.0 and 41.

I claim: 1. A device of the character specified comprising a container for cream and a refi' crating casing in which. the container is said means for cutting off and removing a block of cream, means for intermittently rotating the cream container to bring the com partments in succession into register with the opening of the refrigerating casing, a follower in each OOIHPZIItIIlGHt resting upon the cream, and means for engaging each follower when the compartment is in register with the opening of the refrigerating casing for depressing said follower to move the cream downward, the means for turning the container comprising a handle mounted to move circumferentially of the top of the refrigerating casing and having a pawl and ratchet connection with the container, the refrigerating casing having stops for limiting the movement of the said arm for the purpose specified.

2. A device of the character specified com prising a container for cream and a refrigerating casing in which the container is mounted to rotate, said container having a series of compartments extending vertically thereof and opening laterally at the bottom of the container, the refrigerating casing having a lateral opening with which said openings are adapted to register in succession as the cream container is rotated, means at the opening of the refrigerating casing and movable into and out of the compartments as they come into register with the said means for cutting off and removing a block of cream, means for intermittently rotating the cream container to bring the compartments in succession into register with the opening of the refrigerating casing, a follower in each compartment resting upon the cream, and means for engaging each fol lower when the compartment is in register with the opening of the refrigerating casing for depressing said follower to move the cream downward, the means for turning the container comprising a handle mounted to move circumferentially of the top of the refrigerating casing and having a pawl and ratchet connection with the container.

3. A device of the character specified comprising a container for cream and a refrigcrating casing in which the container is mounted to rotate, said container having a series of compartments extending vertically thereof and opening laterally at the bottom of the container, the refrigerating casing having a lateral opening with which said openings are adapted to register in succession as the cream container is rotated, means at the opening of the refrigerating casing and movable into and out of the compartments as they come into register with the said means for cutting off and removing a block of cream, means for intermittently rotating the cream container to bring the compartments in succession into register with the opening of the refrigerating casing, a follower in each compartment resting upon the cream, and means for engaging each follower when the compartment is in register with the opening of the refrigerating casing for depressing said follower to move the cream downward.

4. A device of the character specified comprising a container for cream and a refrigerating casing in which the container is mounted to rotate, said container lriving a series of compartments extending vertically thereof and opening laterally at the bottom of the container, the refrigerating casing having a lateral opening with which said openings are adapted to register in succession as the cream container is rotated, means at the opening of the refrigerating casing and movable into and out of the compartments as they come into register with the said openings for cutting off and removing a block of cream, and means for intermittently rotating the cream container to bring the compartments in succession into register with the opening of the refrigerating casing.

5. A device of the character specified comprising a container for cream having a series of compartments extending vertically thereof and opening laterally at the bottom of the container, said container being rotatable about a central axis, relatively fixed means with which the lateral openings are adapted to register in succession for removing a portion of cream from the bottom of a compartment and movable into and out of the compartments as they come into register with the said means, means for intermittently rotating the cream container to bring the compartments in succession into register with the cutting means, said rotating means comprising a radial crank extending from the container and having a pawl and ratchet connection therewith, and stops for limiting the movement of the arm.

6. A device of the character specified comprising a container for cream having a series of compartments extending vertically thereof and opening laterally at the bottom of the container, said container being rotatable about a central axis, relatively fixed means with which the lateral openings are adapted to register in succession for removing a portion of cream from the bottom of a compartment and movable into and out of the compartments as they come into register with the said means, and means for intermittently rotating the cream container to bring the compartments in succession into register with the cutting means.

7 A device of the character specified comprising a container for cream having a series of compartments extending vertically thereof and opening laterally at the bottom of the container, said container being rotatable about a central axis, relatively fixed means with which the lateral openings are adapted to register in succession for removing a portion of cream from the bottom of a compartment and movable into and out of the compartments as they come into register with the said means, and a refrigerator casing inclosing the container and in which the container is rotatable, said casing having an opening through which the cutting means is movable.

8. A. device of the character specified comprising a container for cream having a series ofcompartments extending vertically thereof and opening laterally at the bottom of the container, said container being rotatable about a central axis, and relatively fixed means with which the lateral openings are adapted to register in succession for removing a portion of cream from the bottom of a compartment and movable into and out of the compartments as they come into register with the said means.

9. A device of the character specified comprising a container for cream having a series of compartments extending vertically thereof and opening laterally at the bottom of the container, said container being rotatable about a central axis, relatively fixed means with which the lateral openings are adapted to register in succession for removing a portion of the cream from the bottom of a compartment and movable into and out of the compartments as they come into register with the said means, a follower in each compartment, and a common ,means for moving the followers downwardly while they are at the cutting means.

WILLIAM LEWIS HIX. 

